2020/02/21
Keio University School of Medicine
Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
A group led by Associate Professor Yasuaki Kabe and Guest Professor Makoto Suematsu of the Department of Biochemistry, Keio University School of Medicine, in collaboration with Project Professor Hiroshi Handa of Tokyo Medical University and others, has succeeded in identifying the target receptor protein for sesamin metabolites by utilizing their proprietary drug receptor screening technology. This has led to the world's first elucidation of the molecular mechanism of action involved in the anti-inflammatory effects of sesamin.
Sesamin, the active ingredient in sesame, has long been used to maintain and promote health. It is believed that when ingested, sesamin is metabolized in the liver and converted into active components to exert its effects, but the detailed mechanism of action was not understood.
This study revealed for the first time in the world that: (1) the sesamin metabolite SC1 binds to the activity-regulating region of the annexin A1 (hereinafter, ANX A1) molecule; (2) this binding converts the region of ANX A1 involved in anti-inflammatory activity into its active form; and (3) the active form of ANX A1 suppresses the expression of inflammatory substances in immune cells, thereby inhibiting excessive inflammation induction. Furthermore, analysis using an acute hepatitis model demonstrated that sesamin exhibits anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects in an ANX A1-dependent manner.
These findings are the first to clarify the molecular target and function related to the anti-inflammatory effects of sesamin intake, and are expected to contribute to new applications such as health promotion and medicine utilizing sesamin.
The results of this research were published in the online advance publication of the academic journal "npj Science of Food" on February 20, 2020 (UK time).
Please see below for the full press release.